clark



(No Model) J. H. CLARK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Patented Aug. 23, 1892.4

lr X/er inn cfOfin/JL 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VHITTIERMACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,297, dated August23, 1892.

Application filed September 29, 1891. Serial No. 07,102. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. CLARK, of Boston, county of Suffolk, Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, ofwhich the following description,

in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the draw ings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve I0 the construction andoperation of electric switches or cut-outs.

Prior to this invention it has been common to move aswiteh-arm by theaction of a spring, which is carried from one to the other side of I 5the center line of the switch-arm to thus act to move the arm in one orthe other direction. Switches constructed 011 this principle frequentlyfail to operate properly, for the reason that a spring is capable ofexerting its maximum power only when fully extended or fully compressed,and the movement is such that the spring is weakest at a time and whenin a position to act to best advantage.

In accordance with this invention a weight which always exerts aconstant pull is employed in place of the spring, the weight beingconnected with the switch-arm in suitable manner through a movablepulling-point, movement of which causes the weight to act upon the saidarm from opposite sides to thereby move the arm into one or anotherposition.

One part of this invention therefore consists of a movable switchmember, a freely- 3 5 suspended weight, a connection between said memberand weight, and a movable pullingpoint introduced into said connectionintermediate said weight and movable switch member, whereby thedirection of pull of the weight with relation to the member may bechanged, as will be described.

Other features of this invention will be hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents in front elevation anelectric-switch device embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a similar viewshowing the fulcrum and movable member of the device in their otherpositions, and Fig. 3 a sectional detail to be described.

Referring to the drawings, a a a represent fixed contacts of a switchdevice, and b the movable member, which, as herein represented, ispivoted loosely on the actuatingshaft 0, mounted in suitable bearings inthe inclosing ease or frame A.

The actuating-shaft c at its front end has fast on it the arm (1,limited in its movement in either direction by pins or steps d, andhaving a stud (1 which works in a slot c in the reversing-lever e,pivoted at e and carrying at its outer end a pulley c A11actuating-weight F is connected with and operates the movable member Z)of the device through a suitable connection, herein shown as a cord orchain f, which is passed about the sheave f and the pulley 6 whichlatter constitutes the movable pulling-point of the connection.

The shaft 0 may be actuated in any desired manner, it being hereinrepresented as constituting the shipper-shaft of an elevator mechanism,it having mounted upon it a shipper-wheel \V.

\Vith the movable pulling-point c in the position shown in Fig. l theweight F acts to hold the movable member I) in its rearmost or cut-outposition; but if the shipper-wheel V be rotated to the right, Fig. 1,the shaft 0 and arm (1 will be thrown into their positions Fig. 2,carrying the pulling-point e from its position, Fig. 1, at the right ofthe center line of the member 1) to the position, Fig. 2, at the left ofthe center line of the said member, so that the pull of the weight F,which previ- S5 ously had acted to keep the member in its rearmostposition,will nowbe exerted to throw the member over into its position,Fig. 2, to close the circuit through the contacts a a a The pull of theweight F is as great when in 0 either of its extreme positions, Figs. 1and 2, as it is in any intermediate position, so that full advantage istaken of the difference in the directions of the pull or leverage due tothe different positions of the movable pull- 5 ing-point 6 As hereinrepresented, the shaft 0 has loosely mounted upon it a second lever orarm it, having formed upon or carried by its outer end a socket h toreceive and hold a stick of carbon 71 held in place by a clamping-screwk and adapted to sweep over a series of re sistance-contacts m. Thelever h has an auxiliary arm h", connected at its outer end with adash-pot n, the piston of which is mounted on the end of the rod n,jointed at n to the frame A, the weight of the dash-pot in the presentinstance tending to force said dashpot and its attached lever h intotheir dottedline position, Fig. 2.

The movable member I) when in its position Fig. 1 acts against aprojection h on the arm h to maintain the arm 7b also in its positionFig. 1. As soon, however, as the memher I) is moved to its position,Fig. 2, to close the circuit through the fixed contacts, the arm h,being no longer restrained from movement, will be moved by the weight ofthe dash-potn, causing the carbon 7L3 to sweep over the series ofresistance-contacts m, the air or liquid contained in the dash-potretarding the motion to make it slow, in order that the full strength ofthe current of the line in which the switch is included may be turned ongradually. \Vhile the member I) when moved to its closed position, asdescribed, permits the lever 7b to slowly follow, yet when the member Z)is returned to its normal or cut-out position, Fig. 1, by the shiftingof the pulling-point e to the other side of the center line of themember it will by the projection 72. push the lever h before it, thusreturning the said lever quickly to its normal position, together withthe member Z).

This invention is notlimited to the particular construction herein shownand described, as the same may be varied without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention, and it is evident that the inventionrelating to the movement of the member I) is applicable to other formsof switch or cut-out than the one herein described.

I claim- 1. The combination, with the movable member of a switch device,of a freely-suspended weight, a connection between it and said movablemember, and a movable pulling-pointintermediate said weight and movableswitch member and through which said connection acts to operate,substantially as described.

2. The combinatiomwith the movable member of a switch device, of afreely-suspended weight connected therewith by a flexible connection anda movable pulling-point interme diate said weight and movable switchmember and about which said connection is passed, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with the movable member of a switch device, of afreely-suspended weight connected therewith by a flexible connection, areversing-lever carrying thereon a pulling-point about which saidconnection is passed, and means to move said reversinglever and thepulling-point thereon,the weight exerting a constant pull on saidmovable switch member, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the movable member of a switch device, of aweight connected therewith by a flexible connection, a slottedreversing-lever carrying a pulling-point about which said connection ispassed, and a pivoted operating-lever having a projection to enter theslot in said reversing-lever, to operate substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the shipper-wheel of an elevator mechanism, ofa weight, a switch device, a connection between its movable member andsaid weight, and a pollingpoint through which said connection acts andmade movable by said shipper -wheel, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the shipper-wheel of an elevator mechanism anda shaft therefor having an arm, of a reversing-lever moved by said arm,a switch device having its movable member journaled on said shaft, aweight, and a connection between said weight and movable membercontrolled by said reversi ngarm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. CLARK.

\Vitnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, FRANCES M. NOBLE.

